Srinagar, Dec 24: Churches across Jammu and Kashmir are all decked up with Christmas festivities, joining global celebrations to mark the birth of Jesus Christ.
J&K Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah have extended their wishes to the people. On Christmas eve, the churches in J&K echoed prayers for peace and brotherhood. The Holy Family Catholic Church in Srinagar, a traditional central place for Christmas prayers, hosted vibrant Christmas Eve celebrations on Tuesday, drawing locals and tourists alike. Father John Paul, the priest at Holy Family Catholic Church, extended warm wishes to all on Christmas Eve, emphasising unity in diversity.
“We’ll be holding a mass prayer followed by celebrations, praying for the brotherhood of our country,” he said. In a heartfelt addition, Father Paul highlighted a special prayer for Kashmir and all people, created equal by God. The church was adorned with twinkling lights and festive decorations, and saw a large gathering for mass and carol singing.
The recent snowfall has added a magical touch to the celebrations around churches located in places like Gulmarg and Pahalgam.
J&K LG Manoj Sinha also extended his heartiest greetings to the people on the joyous occasion of Christmas. In a message, the Lieutenant Governor said, “On the joyous occasion of Christmas, I convey my warm greetings to the people. I hope that this occasion of festivity ushers in love and harmony amongst the people. He said that Christmas serves as a reminder to embrace Lord Christ’s teachings of love, compassion, and forgiveness in our daily lives. “This auspicious occasion inspires us to renew our commitment towards the welfare of each other for a prosperous future for all,” he said while praying that the spirit of Christmas encourages people to help those in need and bring peace, prosperity, and happiness to all.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah extended his greetings to the Christian community and all celebrants in J&K. Describing Christmas as a festival symbolising peace, love, and compassion, the CM said that the teachings of Jesus Christ continue to inspire humanity to uphold the values of kindness, forgiveness, and harmony. “Christmas is not merely a celebration; it is a reaffirmation of our shared values of harmony and mutual respect, where people from all communities come together in a spirit of unity,” he said. He recalled the rich secular ethos and age-old tradition of brotherhood in Jammu and Kashmir while urging people to mark the occasion by extending support to the less privileged so that everyone can partake in the joy of the festival. He prayed for peace, prosperity and happiness to the people of J&K, and prayed for a future marked by greater harmony and goodwill.
In Kashmir, local artisans have been busy crafting traditional papier-mâché Christmas bells and ornaments, adding a Kashmiri flair to the global festival. December is a month that local artisans look forward to for better demand for their beautiful decorative items.
Kashmir tour operators and other businesses associated with tourism have also been pinning their hopes on a better tourist season around Christmas and New Year. Many visitors have described the snowy landscape created by the recent snowfall as a “winter wonderland.”